CAR CRAZY

I was prompted to discuss this subject after a fellow Gidblogger raised a question on the benefits of a tyre cleaner/protectant. In order to know how it helps, lets find out how the tyres are made first. Ever wondered why the tyres that we use only come in black? Well, here’s why. There are two main degrading agents that attack our tyres and rubber trim. The two degrading agents are UV light waves and ozone.

Both of these two degrading agents attack the long hydrocarbon chains that make up the rubber, and by breaking these bonds it will somewhat shorten the molecules which would result in the loss of elasticity and other possible problems.

So to help evade the rapid deterioration of tyre’s, tyre manufacturer’s add two primary sacrificial protectants into the production of rubber. To save-guard it against UV, they add carbon black into the process. This is why you would not find tyre’s coming out in designer colors to match your paint. The carbon black compound will turn white or gray as it absorbs the UV and will dissipate the energy as heat. This is why common rubber parts usually turn gray over time.

Protection is important. If you’re talking about protection against ozone, then it comes in another form - known as wax. Tyre manufacturer’s always add a wax-based sacrificial protectant into their rubber compound. The ozone usually will attack the wax and depletes it.

As the common tyre rolls, additional wax is usually forced onto the surface. This is commonly referred to as blooming. The blooming process will refresh the surface wax protectant. Normally a tyre that has not been flexed will surely have it’s wax depleted by the ozone and thus begins to degrade and eventually lead to suffer a dry rot.

Always try to use an exterior rubber or vinyl protectant to improve the appearance of the tyre and at the same time protect the tyre or trim against a possible long-term damage. Remember to use the rubber or vinyl protectant’s on only area’s that are found to be unpainted rubber or vinyl.

Choose the right products compatible with it’s top surface on your car. A great example would be the bumper of your car. If you have got a sort of hard or soft rubber or vinyl, uncoated bumpers or even small bumperettes, use a good exterior rubber or vinyl protectant. In this example the top surface is an uncoated rubber or vinyl.

If on the other hand, you have mounted painted flexible bumpers, then you would have to use a wax compound. In this scenario, the paint is the top surface and does not matter what material it is adorning. It is still paint and you must surely treat it in such a manner.